Expansion-plates for rotary engines.



W. G. NIGOLA & A. G. RUPP. EXPANSION PLATES FOR. ROTARY ENGINES.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.27, 191a.

Patented May 5, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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EXPANSION PLATES FOR ROTARY ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 1913.

1,095,223, Patented May 5,1914.

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TlT SATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM G. NICOLA AND ARTHUR G. RUPP, OF WORLAND, WYOMING.

EXPANSION-PLATES FOR ROTARY ENGINES.

reassess.

To (ZZZ 10. mm it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM G. NiooLA and Ania-inn G: Burr, citizens of the United States, residing at lVorland, in the county of l l ashakie and State of Wyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Expansionllates for Rotary Engines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in expansion plates for rotary engines and comprises, in connection with a rotor of the engine provided with suitable steam pockets, a series of plates which are adapted to be cushioned by steam and are provided for the purpose of preventing the steam from passing from the in take ports between the rotor and the casing to the outlet.

The invention comprises various details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and then specifically defined in the appended claims.

We illustrate our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view through a rotary engine showing the application of our invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through the engine. Fig. 3 is a face view of one of the cushion plates, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section of one of the plates, and Fig. 5shows a slight modification.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the cylindrical casing of the engine mounted upon the legs A and said casing is provided with a series of steam feeding recesses B through which steam is admitted from a pipe D, and an exit pipe D is provided for the exhaust steam to make exit from the casing. A shaft E is journaled in the casing and has a rotor F fixed thereto and which rotates within the casing and is provided with a series of pockets H, the inner portions of which are wider than the inlets thereto. In the circumference of said rotor and intermediate the openings into said re- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 27, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914:. Serial No. 787,025.

cesses are the recesses K in which concaved expansion plates L are mounted, each of which is held in place by means of screws O passing through apertures in the plates and engaging threaded holes in the bottoms of the recesses K. Coiled springs L are mounted upon said screws and adapted to bear yieldingly against the plates. The holes in said plates, it will be understood, are of sufficient size to allow the plates to move freely under the influence of the spring or under the action of steam bearing against the inner faces thereof. The bottoms of the recesses K have apertures N leading through into the various pockets H, affording means whereby the steam may pass through said apertures or ducts and form cushions for the plates K. Packing rings S are mounted in annular grooves in the circumference of the rotor and in the shoulders T formed in the wall of the chambered portion of the casing, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings we have shown a slight modification of the invention in which the plate L is provided with integral guide pins 0 movable in opening apertures in the cylinder F, and N designates an opening through which steam is allowed to pass in order to cushion said plate. In this modified form it will be noted that the springs are dispensed with which tend to normally throw the plate outward.

By the provision of an engine made in accordance with our invention, the expansion plates will be held against the outer casing of the engine by the action of the steam serving as a cushion and the coiled springs upon the screws, thus preventing the steam from passing from the intake between the circumference of the rotor and the casing as well aS from the cylinder to the outlet.

What we claim to be new is 1. A rotary engine comprising a casing having a series of pockets formed in the inner face thereof, inlet and exhaust ports communicating therewith, a shaft journaled in the walls of the casing, a rotor fixed to said shaft and provided with a series of steam pockets, the circumference of said rotor having recesses with openings leading through the bottoms thereof into said steam pockets of the rotor, and a series of expansion plates mounted one in each of said recesses, as set forth.

2. A rotary engine comprising a casing having a series of pockets formed in the inengaging the bottoms of the recesses, and

springs upon the screws and interposed between the plates and the bottoms of the recesses, as set forth.

In testimony whereof we hereunto afiix 15 our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM G. NICOLA. ARTHUR Gr. RUPP.

Witnesses OLE ERWIN,

O. H. HARKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

